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Becoming a pharmacy technician in Pennsylvania is relatively easy as no formal education, training or certification, is required.
If you want to learn more about this occupation in this state, read on!
Article Table of Contents
Educational and Training Requirements in Pennsylvania
Even though you’re not required to undergo formal education or training, those who choose tho undergo them will have high chances of getting employment.
Usually, training as a pharmacy tech is done on the job.
Those who prefer to enroll in an educational training program can complete one in as little as few months and as long as 2 years, at the end of which they also obtain an Associates’ degree.
Most schools also offer an internship at local drugstores or hospitals.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Bidwell Training Center Inc | 1815 Metropolitan St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | 800 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233-1895 |
| Laurel Technical Institute | 200 Sterling Avenue, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146 |
| Penn Commercial Business/Technical School | 242 Oak Spring Road, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301-6822 |
| Pennco Tech | 3815 Otter St, Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904 |
| Rite Aid Pharmacy | 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, PA 17011 |
| Sanford-Brown Institute | 3600 Horizon Blvd., Suite GL1, Trevose, Pennsylvania 19053 |
| Sanford-Brown Institute | 777 Penn Center Boulevard, Building 7, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15235 |
| YTI Career Institute | 2900 Fairway Dr, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16602 |
| YTI Career Institute | 401 East Winding Hill Road Suite 101, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055 |
Those who cannot attend classes in person should look for programs that offer online learning.
As long as the program is accredited, enrolling in online classes is acceptable for future pharmacy technicians.
Classes include:
- Introduction to anatomy
- Pharmacy laws
- Pharmacy calculations
- Pharmacy quality assurance
- Medication safety
- Pharmacy inventory management
- Medication order entry and fill process
The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board organizes the Pharmacy Tech Certification Exam (PTCE).
Those who pass this exam, become certified pharmacy technicians.
Job Duties of a Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician has many different duties and he or she works while being supervised by a pharmacist.
The pharmacist has to provide a list of tasks the pharmacy tech needs to complete.
These tasks include:
- Preparation of prescriptions
- Recording medicine and prescriptions
- Labeling and counting medications
- Various administrative duties
In recent years, pharmacy technicians started performing expanded duties, such as giving flu shots.
Salary Expectations for a Pharmacy Tech in Pennsylvania
Those with certification and experience will earn more money than those without.
Of course, there are several other factors that influence the income of a pharmacy technician, not just their experience or credentials.
Some of the other factors include the location of the workplace and the workplace itself.
Being employed full time or part-time will further affect how much you’ll earn.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $37,725 |
| Pittsburgh | $34,592 |
| Allentown | $35,013 |
| Erie | $32,439 |
| Reading | $34,834 |
| Upper Darby | $37,725 |
| Scranton | $32,415 |
| Bensalem | $39,661 |
| Lancaster | $34,406 |
| Abington | $37,696 |
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,160 | $38,120 | $18.33 | $50,250 | $28,920 |
| Altoona, PA | 190 | $37,240 | $17.9 | $49,860 | $28,390 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 250 | $38,380 | $18.45 | $51,200 | $30,490 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 170 | $41,230 | $19.82 | $63,840 | $30,590 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 180 | $36,690 | $17.64 | $45,350 | $29,300 |
| Erie, PA | 330 | $36,180 | $17.39 | $45,590 | $28,540 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 50 | $35,950 | $17.28 | $45,260 | $29,990 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 920 | $38,940 | $18.72 | $49,480 | $29,820 |
| Johnstown, PA | 180 | $33,430 | $16.07 | $43,890 | $27,860 |
| Lancaster, PA | 570 | $38,620 | $18.57 | $48,250 | $29,800 |
| Lebanon, PA | 150 | $39,170 | $18.83 | $56,470 | $29,210 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,940 | $40,950 | $19.69 | $50,980 | $30,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 3,710 | $39,940 | $19.2 | $47,420 | $31,480 |
| Reading, PA | 400 | $37,490 | $18.02 | $46,990 | $29,650 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 900 | $36,180 | $17.4 | $45,070 | $28,640 |
| State College, PA | 150 | $38,020 | $18.28 | $48,170 | $29,610 |
| Williamsport, PA | 140 | $36,730 | $17.66 | $47,900 | $28,440 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 470 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $46,730 | $29,580 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Other Information
In many other states, individuals need to register with their State’s Board before starting to work in a drug store.
In Pennsylvania, there is no such requirement, making the process much easier.
Individuals are however expected to meet the following requirements before finding employment:
- Minimum age of 18
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- A clean criminal record
In case you’re wondering about where to go search for a job, do know you have many options.
These options include:
- Retail drugstores
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Assisted living facilities
Do be aware that most of the facilities employing pharmacy techs can operate 24/7.
This will affect your work schedule, and having to work evenings, nights, and weekends is very common.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician Schools by State